5 French-Girl Beauty Rules for Your Chicest Summer Yet

If this year’s Fourth of July look to beat was a patriotic, barbecue-ready pairing of denim and red lipstick, then surely Bastille Day calls for a touch of transatlantic French-girl magic in the form of gloriously rumpled waves, skin that glows (thanks to moisturizer in lieu of foundation), and a low-carb lifestyle that starts with a breakfast of fresh croissants.

A quick scan of Instagram’s reigning It Parisiennes reveals that the elusive essence of Gallic cool may lie in whittling down a summer beauty routine to five well-spent minutes—while remembering that the je-ne-sais-quoi factor still comes down to a universal set of rules. Here, five beauty mantras to get you through the summer with practically effortless elegance.

1. Red Lipstick Was Made for a Steamy DayTaking less time than a stealth application of no-makeup nudes, a straight from-the-tube swipe of red lipstick looks even better with bare lashes and glowing, once-powdered skin.

2. There’s Only One Way to Avoid Tan LinesStateside, braless street style sightings and peekaboo lingerie may be the epitome of summertime sex appeal, but take it from Lily-Rose Depp: If you’re going to shun spray tans in favor of a real sun-kissed glow, apply sunscreen and let the light shine everywhere.

3. There’s No Styling Aid Quite Like a Warm BreezeEven a Victoria’s Secret Angel like Constance Jablonski knows when it’s time to pack away the curling iron and let a windy day whip lengths into piece-y off-duty shape.

4. An Exposed Back Beats the Best MidriffFiled under Sexy Things Even Science Can’t Explain: A swath of exposed skin below the nape answers summer’s siren call for six-packs and cleavage with an infinitely more alluring whisper.

5. Moderation Is EverythingThe “French paradox” is the existence of perennially slim Parisiennes like Iman Pérez who subsist on indulgent foods in the land of mille-feuille and steak frites—without a SoulCycle studio in sight. The secret? Never skip ice cream, just don’t make a whole meal of it.